Learn six steps to deal with conflicts of interest in journalism, from identifying and disclosing them, to avoiding and minimizing them, to seeking feedback and collaboration, to updating and correcting them, to learning and improving from them.

One of the responsibilities of a journalist is that you have to correct factual errors if someone points them out. That also means that you should make your email address publicly available because these requests often come through email. You don't have to change opinion statements if someone doesn't like your opinions, though.

What are the best practices for handling conflicts of interest in journalism?

Conflicts of interest are situations where a journalist's personal or professional interests may compromise their ability to report fairly and accurately on a story. They can undermine the credibility and trustworthiness of journalism, as well as expose journalists to legal and ethical risks. Therefore, it is essential for journalists to follow some best practices for handling conflicts of interest in their work.

1 Identify potential conflicts

The first step is to identify any potential conflicts of interest that may affect your reporting. These can include, but are not limited to, having a personal or financial relationship with a source, subject, or sponsor of a story; having a political or ideological affiliation or bias that may influence your coverage; having a personal stake or involvement in the outcome of a story; or receiving any gifts, favors, or incentives from anyone related to a story. You should be aware of your own interests and motives, as well as those of your colleagues, editors, and media outlets.

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Annette Atkinson

Senior Manager at Guardian Group
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If there is a conflict of interest on an assignment, or even the perception of one, immediately declare your interest and recuse yourself from the assignment.

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Kaluan Bernardo

Product Manager | Product Owner| PhD Candidate | Journalist | SQL | Python | Content Manager
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Quando uma empresa se aproximar para oferecer algum produto, viagem ou qualquer coisa do tipo, pergunte-se qual é a intenção dela naquela generosidade. Se você chegar à conclusão de que aquilo busca influenciar sua opinião, temos um conflito de interesses. Muita gente cria discursos para justificar os favores, mas a lógica é clara: se tem alguém investindo para influenciar sua opinião e você aceita, sua opinião já será influenciada.

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Antonella Prospitti

La escritora de tus libros✨️| Vos ponés las ideas | Yo te ayudo a hacerlo realidad ❤️ | +15 libros de no ficción
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Creo que identificar es bueno, pero que hay que tener una respuesta de gestión de crisis previamente armada ante distintas situaciones. El periodismo siempre puja por un interés: social, político, económico. Nunca sería periodismo si fuera desinteresado. Entonces, debo preveer ante todo.

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2 Disclose relevant conflicts

The second step is to disclose any relevant conflicts of interest to your editors and audience. You should be honest and transparent about any factors that may affect your objectivity or integrity as a journalist. You should inform your editors of any potential conflicts before you start working on a story, and seek their guidance and approval on how to proceed. You should also inform your audience of any relevant conflicts in your story, either in a disclaimer, an acknowledgment, or a footnote. This way, you can show your respect and accountability to your readers and viewers.

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Eric Novinson

Freelance Writer at Self Employed
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When I was writing for stock market websites, they typically disclosed any conflicts of interest in a footnote. For example, if you owned a stock you could still write about the stock but you had to disclose that you owned it at the bottom of the article.

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3 Avoid or minimize conflicts

The third step is to avoid or minimize any conflicts of interest that may compromise your journalism. You should refrain from reporting on stories that involve your personal or professional interests, or those of your close friends, family, or associates. You should also avoid accepting any gifts, favors, or incentives from anyone related to a story, or participating in any activities or events that may create a perception of bias or favoritism. If you cannot avoid a conflict of interest, you should minimize its impact by seeking diverse and independent sources, verifying facts and evidence, and balancing different perspectives and opinions.

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Eric Novinson

Freelance Writer at Self Employed
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Even though you may be able to write when you have a conflict of interest if you disclose it, sometimes it's a better choice to avoid situations like that entirely. I've also seen stock market news sites with articles created by writers who don't own any individual stocks.

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4 Seek feedback and collaboration

The fourth step is to seek feedback and collaboration from other journalists and experts on how to handle conflicts of interest. You should consult with your peers, mentors, or industry associations on how to deal with ethical dilemmas and challenges. You should also collaborate with other journalists who have different backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints on the same story, and learn from their insights and perspectives. By seeking feedback and collaboration, you can improve your journalism skills and standards, and foster a culture of trust and professionalism.

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Mekiya O.

Award-Winning Author | MacDowell Fellow | Co-Founder at The DateKeepers | Developmental & Structural Editor | Copyeditor | Proofreader | Manuscript Analyst | Author Support | Open to Writing & Editing Contracts
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You can also seek feedback from other journalists, writers, academics, etc. who specialize in the relevant content area and don't share your conflicts of interest. This can help you gauge whether and to what degree your conflict of interest may be subconsciously shaping your perspective and your presentation of the material.

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5 Update and correct conflicts

The fifth step is to update and correct any conflicts of interest that may emerge or change during or after your reporting. You should monitor and review your sources, subjects, and sponsors for any new or relevant information that may affect your journalism. You should also respond to any questions, complaints, or criticisms from your audience or other stakeholders about your conflicts of interest. If you discover or acknowledge any errors or omissions in your disclosure or reporting, you should update and correct them as soon as possible, and inform your editors and audience of the changes.

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Eric Novinson

Freelance Writer at Self Employed
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One of the responsibilities of a journalist is that you have to correct factual errors if someone points them out. That also means that you should make your email address publicly available because these requests often come through email. You don't have to change opinion statements if someone doesn't like your opinions, though.

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6 Learn and improve from conflicts

The sixth step is to learn and improve from your conflicts of interest, and use them as opportunities to enhance your journalism. You should reflect on your decisions and actions, and evaluate their consequences and implications for your journalism. You should also seek feedback and advice from your editors, colleagues, and audience on how to handle conflicts of interest better in the future. You should also keep yourself updated and educated on the best practices and ethical codes of journalism, and apply them to your work. By learning and improving from your conflicts of interest, you can strengthen your credibility and reputation as a journalist.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Gabriel Gracciano

Repórter l Jornalista de Televisão l Produtor l
(edited)
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O Jornalista segue a literatura. Os critérios de noticiabilidade, a classificação técnica das decisões e a isonomia do espaço dado as partes.

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What are the best practices for handling conflicts of interest in journalism?

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1 Identify potential conflicts

2 Disclose relevant conflicts

3 Avoid or minimize conflicts

4 Seek feedback and collaboration

5 Update and correct conflicts

6 Learn and improve from conflicts

7 Here’s what else to consider

Journalism

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